Back-To-School Woes and Whoas for the Gossip Cast

Just when you thought Gossip Girl couldn't get anymore glamorous, the third season is set to return with a bang. "We have our big Polo match in the first episode, we go to Sotheby's for an auction in the third episode and in the fourth episode, we have a big movie premiere at Ziegfeld Theater," says the show's executive producer Stephanie Savage.

And amidst all this glitz and glam, Gossip's graduates are getting ready to go back-to-school and things are never too easy, are they? Spoiler alerts to come ...

For Blair Waldorf, college might just be down the street from her posh Upper East Side pad, but it might as be well be across the country. "Blair is the fish out of water," says Savage of Leighton Meester's character. "Now that she is going to school downtown, Vanessa and Dan are really among their . So it's bizarre-o world for her."

However, Blair won't be totally alone downtown. As promised, Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) will return as her new college roommate. "She is not going to be in our first episode, but she will be in the second episode when our kid's start college," says Savage. And Chuck Bass (Ed
Westwick) will be a staple by Blair's side throughout the season. While Chuck won't be clocking in any school time, Savage tells PEOPLE, "This year, Chuck is really going to be focused on getting out from underneath his
father's shadow and starting his own entrepreneurial direction."

Adding to Blair's "shadows" downtown is off-again BFF Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), who will also be stirring up trouble south of Central Park. As well as locking lips with Carter Baizen (Sebastian Stan) in the first episode, Serena'll be hooking up with designers Tory Burch and Georgina Chapman of Marchesa. Savage tells us the fashion cameos have to do with Serena's "decision in terms of college and what happens to her in the first couple of episodes."

But, a reconciliation with Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) won't be in her future DASH at least not this year -- Dan is busy romancing Hilary Duff's character Olivia Burke in the Village.

Then there's Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen), learning the ropes of Queen Bee. "We really do see Jenny struggling with what she is going to do with this power that has been given to her," says
Savage. "She is back at Constance and now she is a junior -- the same age as our other girls when the show started -- so we have lots of story areas for Jenny that are opening up." And one in particular that will make a
comeback: Jenny's fashion career! "As we get more into the season, that is going to be a bigger and bigger story," says Savage. -- Andrea DeSimone

Tell us: Do you think Serena will stay in New York? Will Blair fit in at NYU? What kind of Queen will Jenny be? Who are you most excited to see return?